| One other thing...
The other cars and trucks on the road are just as primitive as
the rest of the view out the window. They 'jump' from size to size
as they approach, having only about 3 sizes to simulate perspective.
Not very impressive.
Some of the new arcade games REALLY leave this one in the dust.
What I would really like is a driving game that you can ENJOY.
One that you can drive casually as well as actively. I want to
be able to take a trip and see what's out there, instead of always
having to reach a certain point without running out of gas or time
or speeding tickets (which by the way are poorly implemented in
this game) only to have GAME OVER flashing on the screen, and then
having to start all the way back at the beginning again.
When the game starts, it displays a top score screen. It is only
there to be cute. The game does not keep track of your scores to
be added to the list.
If you want to start the game again, you can only do this by sitting
through the very long title sequence screens (although they look
quite nice...you can see where all the work went). This is even
true if you just want to change cars.
Save your money.
Randy
|
| I agree that the graphics are primitive, but I have had no problem with
the program saving my highest score. If I beat one of the existing
players on the top score screen, it asks me for my name and places me in
the proper sorted order; the top score screen holds about 10 names and
comes up with 10 obviously fictitious names and scores.
If you overrev the engine, you will 'crash', that is, the windshield
will crack, and you will have wasted one of the five cars you're given
at the start of the game.
If you press the fire button on the joystick when the startup screen
comes up, it will go directly to the car selection screens.
Driving one of the cars under joystick control is an acquired skill,
that is, you have to practice, but doing a better driving controller
would require producing something like the Coleco ADAM controller, and
the projected unit sales probably won't support something like that.
I sort of like the fact that you can't just drive one of the cars as
well as you would like on first try; I don't think I could drive a
Lamborghini well on my first try either.
I was very impressed with the fact that each of the cars has a
distinctly different 'feel': different acceleration, deceleration,
gear ratios, cornering, and handling characteristics. When I drive the
Countach and then drive the Corvette is when it's most noticeable.
I also enjoyed the sound effects, again different for each car, which I
found useful enough to use just like I would in a real car. I drive by
the sound of the engine, not so much by the instruments.
What would I change? The graphics. As Randy said, the dash renderings
are good, but the scenery is not very good. OK, but not up to Amiga
quality. Also, I would have liked better crashes. All you get here is
a cracked windshield, no matter what happens. Slightly disappointing.
What do I like? In spite of the generally-C64-type graphics, I like
the overall game. A lot. I play it a lot. I am a driving game freak
of sorts, and I think this is a good game. It meets with my 'game
bias' criterion: can be learned relatively quickly, takes a while to
master, and is rich enough to have more than one mastery solution. In
this case, you get more than one car to master (Lamborghini, Fierrari,
Porsche, Lotus Espirit, and Corvette), and ...
There's this @#$&^!%@!! police car that sometimes tails you if you're
breaking the speed limit. You have some options. Allow the police car
access to the outside lane, and you will get pulled over, losing some
time, which lowers your overall score. Or you can accelerate to around
110-120 and maintain that speed for a while and Smokey will lose
interest in the chase and leave you alone. Or you can just make sure
that he can't get around you(!) Stay in the outside lane as long as
possible. This last strategy is a tough one to pull off, but seems
essential in later screens. And I haven't yet even tried the obvious
strategy of just being within the speed limit when my speed is checked
(there is a radar dectector you can count on to tell you when). That
may be the best way to survive Smokey in the higher screens.
As you can tell, overall I like the game. If you like driving games,
check it out at a store before you buy it; maybe you're pickier than I
am. But I bought it, and I like it.
-jim
|
| I'm having more fun with it now, too. I find the signs at the gas
stations amusing, each one is different. So far, I've had the best
luck with the 'Vette. Virtually no need to slow for any corners.
I showed it fo my brother and his wife last week, and they seemd
to enjoy it. (Maybe he will run out and buy an Amiga now)
Gets better with time. I just wish that the actual play graphics
were more varied.
Randy
|